| Page 1228 | National Parks Traveler

>The question lingering over this program, though, is whether those who sign on are doing so to check out the latest rage in personal transportation or to learn some history?< If the thrill of getting to ride a segway to tour historical places gets more pople interested, I don't see why it would matter in the end.

Spot Check Shows More Than Two-Thirds of Commercial Tour Buses In Yosemite National Park Have Problems

Jun 28th - 10:32am | Lee Dalton

Good. Tour bus companies vary widely in their operations and attention to safety. Unfortunately, probably the majority of them try to skirt proper maintenance and safety issues because the profit margin is so slim. This is a national problem and it's good to see someone getting serious about addressing it.

Mission

Jun 28th - 09:21am | Laural Bidwell

Thank you for writing about civility and enforcing some standards on your pages. I, for one, am entirely behind return civil behavior to public forems.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Crushed By Vehicle At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Jun 28th - 09:17am | Salvo Jimmy

BTW Howie, some of us have tried to help. See my 6/26 post. We were shot down.

Jun 28th - 09:14am | Salvo Jimmy

Howie, I believe you are talking about the turtle. I was responding to Anonymus (see his 6.27 post) re protecting birds on the NC special concern list that are not on any federal list. Totally different issue.

Jun 28th - 08:35am | Howie

The fact that its ON the state protected list, does in fact mean it receives legal protection. Additionally, it is a FEDERALLY protected species. In either case, it can not be taken without a permit, and that permit is not like a game tag.. there are only certain circumstances where the take would be allowed.. and this wasnt one of them, nor was there a permit in place to take one. Period.

Jun 28th - 06:23am | Salvo Jimmy

Just to be clear where I'm coming from on special concern species. This is the definition from the NC ESA.

Jun 27th - 21:42pm | Rick in MD

Crotulas-

Jun 27th - 18:55pm | Salvo Jimmy

Sorry Anonymous, but policy is not law. How about provide the specific section of the NC code that has what you say about protection. Last time I looked monitor was the word used not protection.

Jun 27th - 15:35pm | Anonymous

North Carolina law says the NC Wildlife Commission has a duty to protect special concern species. Myers just ignored the law. Why? Myers is just a political hack for Senator Basnight and Dare County went to the Senator to tell the wildlife agency what to say. Myers is also not a biologist but built boat ramps and owes his job to Senator Basnight. The Park Service knows all this.

Jun 27th - 15:12pm | Salvo Jimmy

Crot I know perfectly well what NPS policy says, but it is overkill for what NC intended with their designation. Might be perfectly applicable in another state but not in NC.

Jun 27th - 12:41pm | Crotalus

Salvo Jimmy, Gordon Meyers doesn't establish park policy and park policy states: The National Park Service will inventory, monitor, and manage state and locally listed species in a manner similar to its treatment of federally listed species to the greatest extent possible. In addition, the Service will inventory other

Jun 27th - 10:35am | Salvo Jimmy

Ah, half the story Anonymous, and a bit of misleading spin.

Jun 27th - 07:47am | Anonymous

Hardam and Davis are ORV advocates. They are not biologists. The North Carolina state sea turtle management plan developed by biologists and turtle experts says leave turtle nests in place unless they are imminently threatened.

Jun 27th - 07:00am | Crotalus

Rick,

Jun 26th - 23:01pm | Rick in MD

Crotalus-

Jun 26th - 18:32pm | Crotalus

Rick in Md, The NPS relocates around 30 percent of nests from areas prone to washover and erosion. From their reports, the early nests do well, but if tropical storms hit (w/in 500 miles as they have in the last 3-4 years) late in the season, because of the man-made dunes and erosion, no part of the beach is immune to overwash from the surge.

Jun 26th - 18:06pm | Kurt Repanshek

Just a friendly reminder from the Traveler that while we certainly encourage comments, we really appreciate it when they're constructive. I think everyone -- folks on both sides -- agrees that the killing of the turtle was reprehensible and unnecessary.

Jun 26th - 17:51pm | Rick in MD

The focus and outcry of the enviro's should be focused on the NPS. Where is the outcry for their failure to move turtle nests laid in known overwash areas? It is sad what happened to this turtle but how does one incident lead to the need to ban all driving on the beach? To those who say folks are lazy who drive on the beach have clearly never visited the Seashore.

Jun 26th - 17:44pm | Anonymous

I visit Cape Hatteras Seashore often. A segment of the local population think they own our Seashore. They are full of vile and hatred and have no respect or interst in wildlife and nature, except for killing fish. ... I have heard they kick Park Service staff out of businesses.

Jun 26th - 17:28pm | Anonymous

@ Anonymous June 26, 2010 - 3:08pm There seems to be something missing from your post. Let me fix it for you: "The tourists are more responsible for the destruction of the beachs and wildlife. But we don't care if the levels of visitation are sustainable, just as long as we can take their money."

Jun 26th - 16:08pm | Anonymous

Accidents happen. I'm sure this wasn't done on purpose. And as for Hatteras's "ATTITUDE", we take care of our beachs. We Care for our wildlife. We care for our lively hood. The tourists are more responsible for the destruction of the beachs and wildlife. So before you make a snotty comment about our "attitude", why not come down and see how we handle ourselves.

Jun 26th - 13:22pm | Salvo Jimmy

I'm not saying there should be no rules. Driving between 2200-0600 is banned under the CD (consent decree) and the turtle was run over. Thus driving during the CD curfew without lights so as not to get caught was a likely contributor. But adding further driving restriction as many advocate will not likely help.

Jun 26th - 12:23pm | Anonymous

The people who did this were in violation of the consent decree, and while this may be the first time a nesting turtle has been brutally and intentionally killed, it is certainly not the first time that those on the pro-driving-on-the-beach side have broken the law because they don't like it when rules apply to them.

Jun 26th - 11:25am | Saddened

I have never posted here before, but the photo of the poor turtle truly sickens me. I have no sympathy for anyone complaining about beach closures and access.

Jun 26th - 10:16am | Anonymous

The "My right to drive on the beach trumps other species right to exist" contingent of the access groups are already accusing NPS staff of killing the turtle. http://forum.reddrumtackle.com/showthread.php?p=148902#post148902 These people are shameless.

Jun 26th - 07:12am | Anonymous

Jim It is pretty clear you know very little about Cape Hatteras National Seashore. There are very few access points to the beaches, let alone available parking, for beach goers. Driving is the only way for access many areas. Besides I guess it is perfectly ok with you for those of us with disabilities and can't walk long distance to be disallowed from enjoying the beach.

Jun 26th - 06:45am | Chris

@RangerLady

Jun 26th - 06:16am | TurtleDude

I just finished two years of documenting Sea Turtles on Miami Beach. I was also a permited volunteer. There are some real heartless people down here. The things people do to our turtles is Unbelievable. Judging from the photos, this person ran this turtle over on purpose. Turtle Dude

Jun 25th - 19:59pm | Evan Wilson

To Lee Dalton: Is there anything, sir, in my post that indicated I blame it "all" on Obama. Until the oil spill I supported him, even here in Texas where he sure ain't very popular. I certainly never wrote anything about his birth certificate. I even was pledged to him in my nominating convention and executed my pledge. But I would decline to do that next time.

Jun 25th - 19:34pm | Anonymous

Prolly a Park Service vehicle !!

Yosemite National Park Planning Prescribed Burn This Week

Jun 28th - 06:02am | Phil1701

I saw the fire damage on my trip to Yosemite in May. In the midst of the beautiful valley,this is such a disturbing sight. Hopefully the park has learned the right lessons to prevent another fire blunder.

Trails I've Hiked: Far Below And Long Ago—Basin Creek Trail to Caudill Cabin in Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Jun 28th - 05:01am | Carl Robinson

Great story! Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway by Randy Johnson was the first hiking book I ever bought. I have done 60 or so hikes descriped in it. My girlfriend and I have made 5 trips down the BRP, but still have a lot left in the book to do. This includes Caudill Cabin. It was Randy's fantastic descriptions of Grandfather Mountain that led me to fall in love with the place.

Woman Dies in Fall From Angel's Landing

Jun 28th - 02:34am | MRC

@Globetrekker: Kids are great. They can do so much more than many adults believe. And you are not the parents of this kids and you don't know what they can do and can't do. I have seen 5 years old who could do Angels Landing and I've seen men in their 20s and 30s who should not even think of it.

Jun 27th - 18:14pm | Globetrekker888

I've seen it all. But one thing I never get used to are the IDIOT parents...e.g. negligent and abusive parents...whose selfishness to want to conquer Angel's Landing overrides being a good role model by carting small children and young teens 1500 feet up on that ridge. No GOOD parent would ever do that. And it does NOT make little Johnny a MAN to force him to go along.

Glacier National Park Visitor Pulls .357 On "Weird" White-Tailed Deer

Jun 26th - 15:09pm | Anonymous

There have been at least three known incidents of visitors firing hand guns at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the last month. It's becoming a very common occurrence in the backcountry.brib

Jun 26th - 07:01am | Anonymous

Maybe the animal was defending its territory. What right have we to chase an animal out of its own home?

Jun 26th - 02:00am | Anonymous

I would have just hung out or backed up some distance. 5 feet is way too close for comfort, if the doe was that close. The front hooves of a deer can rip a person wide open. Only the two women can be the judge of their actions. As far as the gun law, I am an NRA member.

Updated; Fire Burning in the Backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park

Jun 26th - 14:31pm | august west

I'd lived in the hills for over 13 years, half of them DRY. I hope your homes aren't in danger but then again, it's just one of the things you have to deal with when living in the mountains. Is the road to Glen Haven still open?

Jun 26th - 14:13pm | Anonymous

They are fighting the fire to Protect MY and MY NEIGHBORS HOMES. and I thank them for it.. Currently the Cow Creek fire is less than 4 miles from my home

Jun 26th - 00:24am | Anonymous

I'm not sure what the offical policy is, but since we can see this from our living room up in the lumpy range, I'm GLAD they are fighting it!

Jun 25th - 20:33pm | Anonymous

Isn't it good to have the forest burn unless it threatons homes and people, in light of all the beetle kill?

Jun 25th - 19:29pm | G

No...it's the National Forests that have a "natural burn" policy. National Parks are very pro-active!

Investigation Launched Into Grizzly Bear Mauling of Botanist Outside Yellowstone National Park

Jun 26th - 13:28pm | Kyrie Davis

I am more than a little disappointed at how this incident was handled overall. Mr. Evert had no business hiking into backcountry, where he KNEW there was a bear, without bearspray in the first place; he knew better. But, to have the bear put down as a result, was just plain wrong on all accounts.

House Republicans Say Interior Secretary's Proposed Snake Ban Bad for Business

Jun 26th - 12:11pm | bellalacobra

There is little I can say or do to change anyones opinion of this situation, however, I want to start off by saying that my Scaled Americans are the world to me. My whole life I have never been without a Burmese or a Reticulated Python, they have become my children and my best friends. I trust my "snakes" more than any human I know.

Underwater Archeology Projects in Outer Banks Parks Address Intriguing Questions

Jun 26th - 05:06am | Bob Janiskee

The remains of the Laura Barnes will be preserved and displayed in the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. An article about this project is in the queue and will appear in Traveler this coming week.

Jun 25th - 20:36pm | Anonymous

They are excavating the Larua Barnes on the location it was moved to a mile from where it originally wrecked. What do they expect to find?

By The Numbers: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Jun 25th - 22:58pm | james harper

we saw an old water cistern marked oct 1936, some old fire hydrants, water fountains, old large fireplace hearth, lots of foot bridges, you can still see where they pushed back to earth to make a clearing for the camp,

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